Nascimento de Jesus
O nascimento de Jesus é o evento que divide a história. O Verbo se fez carne e habitou entre nós. Deus enviou seu Filho ao mundo para nos salvar e nos reconciliar consigo.
O Verbo se fez carne
Jesus não nasceu por acaso — sua encarnação foi planejada antes da fundação do mundo. Ele se esvaziou e assumiu a forma humana por amor.
The attitude you should have is the same as that of Christ Jesus. Though in his nature he was always God, he wasn’t concerned to cling onto his equality with God. Instead he emptied himself, taking the nature of a servant, becoming like a human being. Coming in human form, humbling himself, he submitted himself to death—even death on a cross.
But at the appropriate time God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the rule of law, so that he could rescue those who were kept under the rule of law, so that we could receive the inheritance of adopted children.
Because the children share flesh and blood in common, he shared in this in the same way so that through death he could destroy the one that had the power of death—the devil— and free everyone who through fear of death were enslaved all their lives.
That’s why it was necessary for him to become like his brothers in everything, so that he could become a merciful and trustworthy high priest in the things of God, to forgive his people’s sins.
For God loved the world, and this is how: he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who trusts in him shouldn’t die, but have eternal life.
O anúncio e o nascimento
O nascimento de Jesus foi anunciado por anjos, precedido por sinais e recebido com adoração pelos pastores e pelos magos do oriente.
This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah happened. His mother, Mary, was engaged to Joseph, but before they slept together she became pregnant by the Holy Spirit.
While he was thinking about all of this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and told him, "Joseph, son of David, don’t be afraid to marry Mary because she is pregnant by the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son and you shall call him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins." (Now this all happened to fulfill what the Lord said through the prophet: "A virgin will become pregnant, and will give birth to a son. They will call him Immanuel," which means "God with us.") Joseph woke up and did what the angel of the Lord told him to do. Joseph married Mary, but did not sleep with her until after she had given birth to a son, whom he named Jesus.
"Don’t worry, Mary," the angel went on, "for God has shown his graciousness to you. You will become pregnant and give birth to a son. You shall call him Jesus. He will be very great, and he will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of David his father, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever. His kingdom will never come to an end."
Joseph was descended from King David, so he left Nazareth in Galilee to go to Bethlehem, the city of David, in Judea. He went to register there, together with Mary, who was pledged in marriage to him and expecting a baby. While they were there, the time came for her to have her baby. She gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him up in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger because the inn had no rooms left.
"Don’t be afraid!" the angel told them. "I’m here to bring you good news that will make all the people really glad. The Savior has been born to you today, here in David’s city. He is the Messiah, the Lord. You will recognize him by this sign: you will find the child wrapped in strips of cloth and lying in a manger."
After the angels had left them and returned to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let’s go to Bethlehem and see what’s happened concerning these things the Lord has told us about."
They hurried there and found Mary, Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. After they’d seen for themselves, they spread the news of what had happened and what they had been told about this baby. All those who heard about it were amazed at what the shepherds told them.
O Rei que veio servir
Jesus nasceu para ser Rei, e todo aquele que é da verdade ouve a sua voz. Os magos o adoraram e ofereceram seus tesouros.
Then Pilate asked, "So you are a king, then?"
"You say that I’m a king," Jesus replied. "The reason why I was born and I came to the world was to give evidence for the truth. All those who accept the truth pay attention to what I say."
After they had heard what the king had to say they went on their way, and the star which they had seen in the east led them until it stopped right above the place where the child was. When they saw the star they couldn’t contain their happiness! They went into the house and saw the child with Mary his mother. They bowed and worshiped him. Then they opened their bags of treasure and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Warned by a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by a different route.